Saradha scam: TMC MP gets bail as CBI fails to file chargesheet

Srinjoy Bose, the Trinamool Congress MP who was arrested last year for his role in the Saradha scam, was granted conditional bail by the Alipore court on Wednesday, on the condition he does not leave the country and cooperates with the CBI investigation. He also had to pay a surety of Rs 1 lakh.

He was granted bail as the Central Bureau of Investigation failed to register a chargesheet against him 60 days after the FIR was filed. Bose’s lawyers had sought bail arguing that he had already spent 75 days in police and judicial custody and was cooperating in the probe.

Bose, the editor of Trinamool mouthpiece Jago Bangla and Bengali newspaper Sambad Pratidin, was arrested on November 21 by the CBI for alleged criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds and deriving undue financial benefits in connection with the scam.

According to a letter submitted by Sudipta Sen, owner of the Saradha group of companies, Sambad Pratidin would provide editorial support to Saradha’s news channel ‘Channel 10’. Sudipta had to pay Rs 10 lakh a month to Bose’s company.

The assistant general secretary of city soccer giants Mohun Bagan, Bose is the first senior Trinamool leader to be granted bail in the scam.

Sports and transport minister Madan Mitra and former director general of police Rajat Majumdar — both important Trinamool leaders — are still behind bars.